A. Appeasement was a policy used against Hitler.
Appeasement has been defined foreign policy-wise as the strategy of making compromises with dictatorial powers in order to avoid armed battle. The International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences defines appeasement as “a foreign policy strategy of making concessions to an adversary in order to avoid direct military conflict” (2008). Guilty Men defined appeasement as the “deliberate surrender of small nations in the face of Hitler’s blatant bullying” (Adams, 1994). England and France chose appeasement as their first approach when dealing with Hitler and Nazi Germany during the 1930s. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain recommended and backed appeasement policy because he felt Britain was too occupied with trying to recover from World War I to contemplate confronting Hitler and Nazi Germany. Britain and France were exhausted mentally and financially after World War I and both countries wanted peace in Europe. Additionally, the punitive nature of the Treaty of Versailles was known to have left Germany in a bad position so there was some sympathy for its plight if not its politics. The Soviet Union appeared to be more of a threat to Europe than Germany and Hitler. In the 1930s, England and France feared communism more than they feared fascism (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2008). If England and France had chosen a different approach to dealing with Hitler maybe World War II could have been avoided; or maybe it would have started in the 1930s instead of the 1940s and been much more horrific. Today appeasement is usually derogatory, referring to a failed plan to avoid war and considered a bad political strategy. In 2012, Akira Komatsu accused the United Nations of trying to broker a policy of appeasement between Iran, with its nuclear arms development, and the United States.
1) Causes of World War I
World War I commenced at a time when much of Europe’s economy was changing due to the Industrial Revolution. Society was being altered and norms being questioned by women who were demanding the vote and socialists who were questioning the rights of workers and factory owners. While women in much of Europe wanted modern freedoms, Russia’s ruler was an autocrat who sought to control his empire with old-fashioned ideology. Most scholars agree that once started, the reason the conflict turned into World War I was due to weak leaders in several countries and confused social goals (Hamilton and Herwig. 2003).
Another aspect of the poor leadership in Europe during this period is attributed to the fact that many of the European monarchies were related to each other. Within Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary there were familial relations that contributed to national alliances supporting one another. There were specific agendas that might have been compromised or delayed, but instead were acted upon such as the desire by Austro-Hungarian rulers to control the Balkans; the recently humiliated and still relatively new Germany’s aspiration for power and influence; British pride in having the best warships; a lasting bitterness among French rulers toward the Germans; and Russia’s rulers angst about their national honor and resentment toward Japan (Hamilton and Herwig. 2003).
2) The impact the Great Depression had on the world.
During the Great Depression economies such as the United States were unable to purchase as usual from countries across the globe. This resulted in wages and income declining internationally, and particularly in Latin America. Japan was newly industrialized and as such was looking to sell to the United States and other nations that could no longer buy. The market for luxury items such as Japanese silk collapsed. This led to an uneasy relationship between Japan, Asia, and the West (Adas, 1992). In the United States and elsewhere welfare programs were instituted. In Germany they began experimenting with Nazi ideas and seeking to place blame. Coupled as it was with rapid industrialization, international reactions to the economic depression caused anxiety and social confusion. The chaotic environment during the Great Depression became a breeding ground for the problems and sentiments that resulted in World War II (Adas, 1992).
3.) What is Fascism?
Fascist ideas and philosophy date back to the late 18th century, however, fascism is usually discussed in the political context of World War I and World War II. Benito Mussolini was the fascist leader in Italy whose movement was characterized by the intense militarization of that country. Fascism rejects democracy and cultural liberalism. During World War II fascism emerged in Europe as well as South Africa and Latin America (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2003). Fascism was amazingly widespread during the interwar years as different elements in society reacted against the economic depression, industrialization, and rapid social changes. Between 1922 and 1945 there were significant fascist parties in Italy, France, and Germany as well as Austria, Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Poland. Many of these parties were anti-Semitic. In the United States today the Ku Klux Klan reflects fascist principles (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2003).
Bibliography
Adams, R. J. Q. 1994. British Appeasement and the Origins of World War II. Lexington, Mass: D.C. Heath. http://catalog.hathitrust.orgAdas, Michael. 2010. Essays on Twentieth-Century History. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. http://public.eblib.com/Akira Komatsu. 2012. A Modern Example of Appeasement. Webster Journal Online. http://websterjournal.com/Darity, William A. 2008. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Detroit, Mich: Macmillan Reference USA. http://go.galegroup.comEncyclopaedia Britannica. 2003. Chicago, Ill: Encyclopaedia Britannica.Gilbert, Martin. 1966. The Roots of Appeasement. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.Hamilton, Richard F., and Holger H. Herwig. 2003. The Origins of World War I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
